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Online Application Video Tutorials

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We’ve been trying to figure out a convenient way to help people with the online application process for the various health insurance companies in Colorado that they can use at any hour. Our clients can call or email us with questions, but sometimes they just want to see a tutorial that they can just reference… Read more about Online Application Video Tutorials

State of the Union

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With all of the talk and opinions about President Bush’s State of the Union Address tonight, it almost seems like it’s already happened.  In a nutshell, the president’s plan is to give tax breaks to people who buy modestly priced plans out of their own pockets and to cover the cost of those breaks by… Read more about State of the Union

The Presidents New Health Insurance Proposals

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In his State of the Union Address tomorrow, President Bush will propose providing a standard deduction for health insurance for all Americans as long as they purchase at least catastrophic health insurance coverage. The deduction will be worth $7,500 for single persons and $15,000 for families. These amounts will be indexed to general inflation (CPI)… Read more about The Presidents New Health Insurance Proposals

Another Response to Mike Rosen

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The Rocky Mountain News printed a response to Mike Rosen’s article “No ‘crisis’ of uninsured”.  It’s not really as much a response to the points Mr. Rosen gave as much as the same figures you’ve read in the health policy blogosphere already.  It was written by Dr. Gary D. VanderArk, president of the Coalition for… Read more about Another Response to Mike Rosen

Universal Health Care and the Colorado Health Insurance Industry

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A very hopeful Bill Ritter was inaugurated as the new Governor of Colorado on tuesday.  He campaigned about changing the healthcare system in Colorado in order to help the 700,000 Coloradoans without health insurance.  And in his inaugural speech, he reminded us that because he is “here for the people of Colorado”, he’ll actually do… Read more about Universal Health Care and the Colorado Health Insurance Industry

Our Flawed Healthcare System

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If you live in Colorado and don’t get your health insurance from your employer, finding health insurance can be difficult and confusing. The reason is because it’s not like shopping for any other insurance, financial, or retail product in the marketplace.  In Colorado, you have two choices: an underwritten individual/family plan a non-underwritten plan like… Read more about Our Flawed Healthcare System

Cavalcade of Risk – New Years Edition

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The Healthcare Economist makes his New Years resolutions with an interesting edition of the Cavalcade of Risk.  This edition really sticks to health insurance and public policy issues relating to healthcare.  The Colorado Health Insurance Insider is included in this edition.  But my favorite article is about Jon Swift’s compassion toward John Derbyshire, who had an… Read more about Cavalcade of Risk – New Years Edition

Ritter Names Manitou Springs Mayor Insurance Commissioner

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Gov.-elect Bill Ritter just appointed Marcy Morrison, the mayor of Manitou Springs, Colorado’s new Insurance Commissioner.  The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the Republican, who has served as a state lawmaker and El Paso County commissioner, will oversee regulation of the state’s insurance industry. Morrison said she has some ideas for the new job, but… Read more about Ritter Names Manitou Springs Mayor Insurance Commissioner

Tonik Rate Increase for Colorado Effective February 1, 2007

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In 2005, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado launched Tonik, three simple, affordable and comprehensive individual PPO plans with a quick online application designed specifically for uninsured 20-somethings. So far, Tonik has done very well – in fact, 60 percent of Tonik applicants were previously uninsured, and 75 percent of Tonik applicants are… Read more about Tonik Rate Increase for Colorado Effective February 1, 2007

SEC Probes United Healthcare

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I don’t think anybody will be surprised by the news that the SEC is looking into United Healthcare after their ex-CEO William McGuire’s stock option mess. McGuire was appointed president and CEO of what was then United Healthcare Corp. in 1989, then named chairman and CEO in 1991. Acquisitions he engineered helped United Healthcare rise… Read more about SEC Probes United Healthcare

Putting the Uninsured Numbers in Perspective

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DavidHunnicutt.com just wrote an article putting the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation study on the uninsured in the U.S. in perspective. 46,100,000 out of 300,000,000 people in this country are without health insurance. Leaving 15% of the population, or 1 in 6, uninsured. If you factor out the number of Americans over age 65, the… Read more about Putting the Uninsured Numbers in Perspective

President Signs HSA Bill – What Do You Think?

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President Bush signed the Health Opportunity Empowerment Act of 2006 yesterday, enhancing possible tax relief to those with an HSA.  According to Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Eric Solomon, the new bill “makes it easier for participants to put money aside for their personal health care”.  What do you think? “As soon as I’m able… Read more about President Signs HSA Bill – What Do You Think?

President Bush Signs HSA Bill

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President George W. Bush signed the Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006 today, enhancing Americans’ access to tax- advantaged health care savings. The law, part of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, provides new opportunities for health savings account (HSA) participants’ to build their funds. “Health savings accounts are improving the… Read more about President Bush Signs HSA Bill

Specialty Drugs Boost Health Insurance Premiums in Colorado

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Health insurance premiums in Colorado and the rest of the country are expected to increase by at least 10% in 2007, driven mainly by the cost of expensive specialty drugs. An article I just read from the Associated Press (published by the Insurance Journal) said that specialty drugs accounted for 19 %, or about $40 billion worth of pharmaceutical… Read more about Specialty Drugs Boost Health Insurance Premiums in Colorado

Universal Private Health Insurance for All

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In a previous article on the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, we were excited about Gov.-elect Bill Ritter’s promise to provide health insurance to the 760,000 residents of Colorado that are uninsured, but skeptical of universal health insurance plans recently enacted in other states. However, I’ve since reviewed a new plan by Senator Ron Wyden (D OR)… Read more about Universal Private Health Insurance for All

Health Wonk Review #22

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You’ll find the latest edition of the Health Wonk Review over at the MSSP Nexus blog.  The Colorado Health Insurance Insider gets mentioned with Louise’s opinion of what needs to be done to fix the health care crisis in this country.  You’ll also find an article by InsureBlog, which comments on what a county in California is actually… Read more about Health Wonk Review #22

What Needs To Be Done

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There is a crisis in the American health care system.  The government got very excited about health savings accounts a couple years ago, but HSAs have not fixed anything.  There are 41 million uninsured people in this country – and that doesn’t count everyone who’s already on government-sponsored Medicare and Medicaid.  It is not uncommon… Read more about What Needs To Be Done

Alternatives to Prescriptions for Common Ailments

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I recently read two articles touting alternatives to prescriptions for very common medical scenarios.  The first was about treating depression, the second was about treating ear infections in children.  Antidepressants and antibiotics for ear infections are very close to the top of the list of most frequently mentioned prescriptions when we ask Colorado health insurance clients about their… Read more about Alternatives to Prescriptions for Common Ailments

Big News for HSAs

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Over the weekend, Congress passed huge new changes in HSA Legislation, it only needs the President’s signature to become law. With an effective date of 2007 for the law, we wanted to make Colorado Health Insurance Insider readers aware of the possible changes. All of the legislation is an improvement for HSAs and includes the following. Full HSA Deduction. The new… Read more about Big News for HSAs

Eagle County Colorado Offering Same Sex Partner Benefits

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Eagle County, in the Colorado mountains, will begin offering health insurance benefits to their employees’ same sex partners, provided the couple meets the same “common law” guidelines required for heterosexual couples to obtain benefits.  Same sex partner benefits are becoming more common among private companies, but Eagle County is the first public (ie, tax-payer funded)… Read more about Eagle County Colorado Offering Same Sex Partner Benefits